Four billion. That, according to a new study shared with CNBC by market research firm SimilarWeb, is how many monthly page visits Facebook has shed in a slow-drip but nevertheless huge decline over the last two years.

Facebook’s traffic hasn’t just fallen by about half since 2016, according to the study. Among the consequences of such a precipitous drop is the opening it’s given to YouTube, which the study’s data shows is about to overtake Facebook to become the second biggest site, traffic-wise, in the U.S. Which would give Google ownership of the top two spots, pushing Facebook down to number three.

HUNTINGTON BEACH, Calif./USA (Thursday, August 2, 2018) – The first-ever all women’s Duct Tape Invitational has been called ON at Vans US Open of Surfing presented by Swatch for a 7:30 a.m. PST start. The Duct Tape Invitational will complete the Quarterfinals and Semifinals today. The Women’s Championship Tour (CT) has been called off for the daym and the Men’s Qualifying Series (QS) will get Round 3 underway following the longboard event.
“The Women’s Duct Tape Invitational will be on at 7:30 a.m. PST and we will have the Men’s QS follow,” said WSL Deputy Commissioner, Travis Logie. “We’ll wait for a possible start to the Women’s CT tomorrow morning, but it will be exciting to get the inaugural women’s Duct Tape Invitational underway at Huntington Beach. For the Men’s QS, we will run Round 3 and the first two heats of Round 4.”

Men’s QS Round 3 will get in the water following longboard Semifinal bouts.

The men’s Round 3 matchups have some heavyweight affairs on their schedule as up-and-comer Kei Kobayashi (USA) will fight for a Round 4 spot against an all-CT lineup featuring Keanu Asing (HAW), Yago Dora (BRA), and 2015 WSL Champion Adriano De Souza (BRA) will open in Round 3 Heat 1.

Recognized as the largest professional sports competition and action sports festival in the world, the Vans US Open of Surfing is currently sanctioned and operated by the World Surf League under license from IMG, the event owner. Official partners of this year’s event include Vans, Swatch, Jeep, Airbnb, Michelob ULTRA, Hydro Flask, LifeProof, Jose Cuervo, Barefoot Wine, Woolmark, BF Goodrich, Harley-Davidson, Peet’s Coffee, Red Bull, U.S. Army, Slowtide, CLIF Bar, U.S. Marine Corps, Let it Block Sunscreen, Tea of a Kind, Flowater, and Frontier Communications.

In the much-hallowed September issue of the magazine, the superstar speaks, in moving, inspirational extended captions, about race, racism, body positivity, motherhood, her legacy, and raising her children to be open-minded and open-hearted (“They can explore any religion, fall in love with any race, and love who they want to love”).

She talks about her past (“I researched my ancestry recently and learned that I come from a slave owner who fell in love with and married a slave”).

It goes a step further than a security system sign in the front yard. “Away Mode” plays conversations, recorded with real-life people — no AI-simulated voices here, folks. This is undoubtedly a lighter and more humorous approach to deterrence, as these conversations are awkward. Read more…

Velvetines

Liquid lipstick without the dryness, these glide on for the perfect powdery-matte pout. The formula is so thin, but densely pigmented, that you’ll forget you’re even wearing it. We love shade Cashmere, a super soft dusky nude.

Buy now

Venus XL

Palette lovers, if you have a passion for collecting and stacking your eyeshadow beauties then this is one you really need. The shadow itself is super fine with rich colour payoff, and they’re so blendable you’ll be able to create endless eye looks. Truly one of the best eyeshadow palettes out.

Plushies

If Velvetines are too matte for your tastes, Plushies are that slightly silkier demi-matte with all the colour. Think fuller-looking lips with just the right dash of rich colour for the perfect pout, and tonnes of shades to choose from.

Brushes

These days brushes come in all colours, shapes and sizes, and the bolder the better. Not only do the Aquarium brushes perform, but they’ll look super cute on your dressing room table, too. Major unicorn vibes.

Highlighter

It wouldn’t be a modern beauty brand without the inclusion of some killer highlighter palettes, like the Hi-Lites. Our favourite is the Opals palette, boasting holographic shades of pink, gold and peach for that multi-dimensional glow. Every highlighter addict needs this in their life.

DeMar DeRozan left Las Vegas Summer League feeling like he was part of Toronto’s long-term future. Two days later, he was a Spur. Here’s what the former Raptor had to say.www.espn.com – TOP
SPECIAL SPORTING UPDATE:

Today’s the day for tequila fans, whether you like to sip the liquor straight or mixed into a refreshing margarita. Below you’ll find a few tequila deals at local restaurants — as well as a few spots that are ideal if you’d like to learn more about tequila.

I was quite hungover when I ran into Britney Spears’ manager in line for an Auntie Anne’s pretzel at a rest stop in New Jersey.

I couldn’t tell if he, Larry Rudolph, her manager through most of her career, was as well. Or if he could tell that I was staring, following him to his car, and peering in the window to see if Ms. Spears was there, too. After all, we were traveling from and to the same places: from the Borgata Hotel and Casino in Atlantic City, where the pop star just performed three shows in herPiece of Me tour, to New York City, where she will perform two nights at Radio City Music Hall.

I am sure she will be great there, but not as great as she was in Atlantic City. Because, you see, I have come to the decision that the perfect place to see Britney Spears in the year 2018 is Atlantic City.

With Galaxy S9 sales slumping, Samsung needs to find new ways to bring more consumers on board. To that end, the upcoming Galaxy Note 9 is sure to find an audience, but the company might be shooting itself in the foot with an archaic practice that isn’t going to make anyone want to buy a Galaxy phone. As reported by XDA-Developers earlier this week, Samsung is still bombarding Galaxy users with advertisements delivered via push notifications.

This isn’t the first time we’ve written about this — in fact, here’s a post from nearly three years ago covering the same topic. The fact that we’re still writing about this in 2018 is astounding, but the Samsung Push Service is alive and well, as XDA-Developers’ Max Weinbach discovered this week while using his Galaxy S9.

Gucci launched their collaborative collection with Dapper Dan globally on Tuesday both online and in select stores. The collection is now officially available to the masses and y’all…it’s fire. The collection is currently headlining the website and I’ve been gathering my coin for months, so I can give myself and early birthday gift.

The collection, not surprisingly, has a Harlem feel. I’m glad that Alessandro Michele and House of Gucci corrected their wrongs and allowing Black culture to flow from the source straight to the runway back to the streets.

Personally, I love the Gucci Dapper Dan Tank Top ($ 550, Gucci.com) and the oversized Gucci Dapper Dan t-shirt ($ 550, Gucci.com), which is perfect for ladies (or men), that want to upgrade their casual wear and support the brand at an affordable (by designer standards) price. The bomber jackets, particularly the all gold jacket ($ 4,500.00, Gucci.com) as well as the oversized glasses. The $ 3,390.00 Gucci Dapper Dan Backpack is something that every city dweller needs to up their commuting game.

This is a collection that I’ll happily give all my rent money towards.

The international soccer tournament has become a commercial dream for sportswear companies — a platform for some of the world’s biggest brands to duke it out for the estimated 1 billion fans watching the once-every-four-year championship.Retail

The world’s biggest oil traders are counting hefty losses after a surprise doubling in the price discount of U.S. light crude to benchmark Brent in just a month, as surging U.S production upends the market.

The world’s biggest oil traders are counting hefty losses after a surprise doubling in the price discount of U.S. light crude to benchmark Brent in just a month, as surging U.S production upends the market.Top News & Analysis

In New York City, only 12 percent of the people who have bail set can pay immediately. The other 88 percent are transported to the infamous jail complex on Rikers Island.FOX News

SPECIAL NEWS BULLETIN:

http://www.acrx.org -As millions of Americans strive to deal with the economic downturn,loss of jobs,foreclosures,high cost of gas,and the rising cost of prescription drug cost. Charles Myrick ,the President of American Consultants Rx, announced the re-release of the American Consultants Rx community service project which consist of millions of free discount prescription cards being donated to thousands of not for profits,hospitals,schools,churches,etc. in an effort to assist the uninsured,under insured,and seniors deal with the high cost of prescription drugs.-American Consultants Rx -Pharmacy Discount Network News

Serena Williams is headed to her 30th Grand Slam singles final after beating Julia Goerges in the 2018 Wimbledon semi-final on Thursday. Her win sets the stage for a redux of the 2016 Wimbledon final in which she defeated Angelique Kerber, who will also be her 2018 opponent.

It was an especially sweet victory for Williams, a 23-time champion, who survived harrowing complications when she gave birth to daughter Alexis Olympia just 10 months ago. Following the baby’s delivery, Williams had a number of health issues, including a pulmonary embolism and a hematoma, which led to her having multiple surgeries.

Williams isn’t taking her time at Wimbledon for granted, noting in a post-game interview that she “didn’t expect to do this well in my fourth tournament back.”

“It’s not inevitable for me to be playing like this,” Williams said. “I had multiple surgeries and nearly didn’t make it when I gave birth. I’m enjoying every moment.”

Williams will face off with Kerber on Saturday; if she is victorious, she’ll tie Margaret Court’s all-time record for grand slam singles titles.

This is becoming absurd. In Jeff McNeil the Mets have a 26-year-old infielder — hardly a kid — who has been crushing everything in sight in Triple-A, hitting .393, and yet they continue to play Jose Reyes and his .484 OPS, which is the second-worst mark in the majors.

Support from female co-workers may be even more important to new moms who are breastfeeding than getting encouragement from their significant others, close friends and relatives, says a new study.Child Development News — ScienceDaily

The chant has its origins in The Lightning Seeds’ 1996 single “Three Lions,” a track that was released to commemorate England hosting the 1996 European Football Championship. But while the song originally poked fun at England’s numerous soccer disappointments, its chorus is now a rallying cry for all those hoping to see the English squad come out on top on Sunday.

As the phrase has risen in popularity throughout the World Cup, fans from around the globe have begun hopping on the “It’s coming home” bandwagon. Even Justin Timberlake tried the cheer out during his Monday concert at London’s O2 Arena.

I get some version of this sentiment every single day I talk to someone not into cryptocurrency about buying into it: “I missed it. It’s too late.”

IT’S NEVER TOO LATE TO BUY BITCOIN AND GET INTO CRYPTOCURRENCY!

This post has been brewing in me for some time. All the looky-loos who are feeling a serious case of FOMO, as bitcoin and cryptocurrency have dominated the imagination of the investment class, see four-figure prices for a whole bitcoin and think it’s just too late to make money in crypto. As a person who is making money every single day in modest amounts with cryptocurrency, I can assure you that it’s never too late.

THE EVIDENCE:1. Bitcoin, and most of the best cryptocurrencies, are deflationary assets, meaning that they only appreciate over time, mostly due to the limited nature of their supply.

Bitcoin, the very first cryptocurrency, was created as a reaction against the bailouts brought on in the aftermath of the Great Recession. This is why there will only be 21 million bitcoin ever, produced at a steady, predictable rate over time until 2140. Considering 16.7 million bitcoin have already been produced, the fight for the remaining 4.3M new bitcoin over the next century will be an expensive one. Considering an estimated 4M bitcoin have never moved and are assumed to be “lost” to early creators’ deaths, every millionaire in the US couldn’t own a whole bitcoin of the 12M or so in circulation if they wanted to. GET IN!

2. Bitcoin block rewards will keep “halving” over time. This means that the amount of bitcoin produced from the efforts of miners will see their bitcoin rewards cut in half, periodically and repeatedly, until 21 million is reached. This will make existing and future bitcoin that much more rare, that much more valuable. GET IN!

Photo: Kid Circus, Unsplash

3. It’s not a bubble. For the first time in a while, consumers are leading the adoption of financial innovation instead of being led by the inherently untrustworthy, self-interested, tax-avoiding financial elite of Wall Street. In the recent past, investment banks, big commercial banks, and legislators/regulators would cook up all manner of schemes to continue to enrich themselves, largely at the expense of the middle-to-lower classes. When the weight of the financial class’ exploitation of the lower classes becomes too much to bear, we get events like the Great Recession. By having a revolution in investment coming from the ground up this time—somehow way ahead of institutional and traditional investors getting a chance to manipulate it—the rise of crypto-wealth feels far more sustainable than other investment trends of the past. GET IN!

4. The dollar has lost its value. Forget inflation, a concept that bitcoin laughs at as a de facto deflationary cryptocurrency. When economists and the landed gentry of the financial class poke at bitcoin, decrying that it has “no value,” it exposes the myth of the inherent value of the U.S. dollar itself.

Besides centuries of advantage being first to market, relentless societal and institutional marketing, and the backing of the biggest army in the world to enforce it, the dollar doesn’t have any value unless we give it value. And that value is falling.

That value is falling because of the instability of executive American leadership, worldwide distrust after the financial shenanigans and money printing done to get us out of the Recession, and the gaping need for a truly stateless world reserve currency. At best, the American president is unqualified for a job he ascertained under a cloud of suspicion and foreign interference. While many Americans lost their jobs and their homes, investment banks who gambled away their pensions were bailed out, and are even stronger than ever. Add in the fact that the purchasing power of the US dollar has fallen some 96% over the last hundred years. Since 1976, the dollar has been off of the gold standard, which underpinned the value of the currency to ounces of gold, yet still, the world considers the dollar the world’s reserve currency. With all these factors going against it, it’s a miracle the dollar is valued much at all. GET IN!

5. Bitcoin could be—should be—worth more than a million dollars per coin in our lifetime. It is opined here that a $ 1M per bitcoin valuation is well within the global money supply. As it is truly a deflationary asset, HODLers like myself tend to buy and hold rather than spend it, adding to its scarcity of demand. Also consider that bitcoin and cryptocurrencies are breaking all traditional molds of financial and FOREX investing. This article here explains how the $ 350 trillion markets for money, equities, and real estate will all be digitized by blockchain assets. We are not even at a quarter trillion in cryptocurrency market cap today. GET IN!

6. It continues to outperform all asset classes combined. The reason why we invest is to build wealth and financial security, correct? As evidenced by the chart below from an earlier post, nothing has built wealth like an investment in bitcoin over the past seven years. GET IN!

Credit: MyPF, December 2017

At some point, it’s not a bubble: It’s just REALITY. Welcome to our new financial reality, where you have a once-in-a-generation chance to build generational wealth. For all the reasons above and more, for the immediate future, it’s never too late to invest in cryptocurrency—and escape the financial world’s Sunken Place.

GET IN!

*A version of this was originally posted on BlacksinBitcoin.com December 12, 2017. The sentiment behind it still applies*

After its 2-0 victory over Sweden on Saturday, the U.K. is advancing to the World Cup semifinals for the first time since 1990.

As celebrations rage, and ahead of the team’s next bout, you may have noticed lots of U.K. fans saying, “It’s coming home.” Here’s what the phrase means, and where it comes from.

Origin

“It’s coming home” makes up the chorus of the 1996 song “Three Lions,” by The Lightning Seeds. The song was created, with the help of comedians David Baddiel and Frank Skinner, to commemorate England hosting the 1996 European Football Championship, its first hosting gig since the 1966 World Cup, according to the BBC. With lyrics like, “England’s gonna throw it away, gonna blow it away,” and “thirty years of hurt,” the song was meant to lovingly poke fun at the bittersweet existence of British soccer fans, according to the Independent.

Meaning

The chorus’ iconic line refers to soccer returning to England, its birth home. The game officially branched off from rugby there in 1863, with the creation of the Football Association in England, according to FIFA. That group was soccer’s (or football’s) first governing body, FIFA says.

The song’s title, “Three Lions,” refers to the design depicted on English players’ jerseys.

Today

Though the song is more than 20 years old, U.K. soccer fans still use “It’s coming home” as a rallying cry, echoing through stadiums and social media networks alike. Even Daniel Baddiel, one of the comedians who helped create the song, has joined in the fun to celebrate England’s advancing team.

http://www.acrx.org -As millions of Americans strive to deal with the economic downturn,loss of jobs,foreclosures,high cost of gas,and the rising cost of prescription drug cost. Charles Myrick ,the President of American Consultants Rx, announced the re-release of the American Consultants Rx community service project which consist of millions of free discount prescription cards being donated to thousands of not for profits,hospitals,schools,churches,etc. in an effort to assist the uninsured,under insured,and seniors deal with the high cost of prescription drugs.-American Consultants Rx -Pharmacy Discount Network News

The example provided Thursday by MoviePass listed Avengers: Infinity War at 7 p.m. with the $ 3.43 surcharge, per the Hollywood ReporterInfinity War is an in-demand movie if there ever was one, but it’s been in theaters for two months already. A MoviePass spokesperson informed Mashable via email that the surcharge could be up to $ 6 and will correlate with demand for the movie. Read more…

A medical assessment of the 12 boys and their football coach stuck in a cave in Northern Thailand has concluded that it is too dangerous to try to move the group out Thursday, according to a member of the Thai Navy Seals who is not authorized to speak to the media. The Seals have also started to pump oxygen into the chamber.

http://www.acrx.org -As millions of Americans strive to deal with the economic downturn,loss of jobs,foreclosures,high cost of gas,and the rising cost of prescription drug cost. Charles Myrick ,the President of American Consultants Rx, announced the re-release of the American Consultants Rx community service project which consist of millions of free discount prescription cards being donated to thousands of not for profits,hospitals,schools,churches,etc. in an effort to assist the uninsured,under insured,and seniors deal with the high cost of prescription drugs.-American Consultants Rx -Pharmacy Discount Network News

The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) has seen a spike in membership in the Trump era. ACLU membership grew from 400,000 to 1.84 million in the 15 months following President Donald Trump’s election, according to the New York Times. The group’s online donations used to run between $ 3 to $ 5 million annually, but in the year after Trump took office, it raised $ 120 million online.

“Until Trump, most of our support came from people who have been with us since we challenged Nixon,” Anthony Romero, the ACLU’s executive director, told the Times. “Now we’re kind of cool. Cool’s not a word generally associated with us.”

Since 1920, the ACLU has been a defender of human rights, adding their resources to cases like Brown v. Board of Education and Roe v. Wade. Their nonpartisan commitment to constitutional rights even led them to defend the free speech rights of a Nazi group in 1978.

According to its website, the ACLU aims to “fight government abuse and to vigorously defend individual freedoms including speech and religion, a woman’s right to choose, the right to due process, citizens’ rights to privacy and much more.”

Under the Trump administration, the group has fought cases concerning the travel ban from Muslim-majority countries, limitations on transgender people serving in the military, and the recent separations of migrant families at the border. The Times reported the ACLU has taken 170 “Trump-related legal actions” since the business mogul took office, including 83 lawsuits.

The influx of donations from new supporters has allowed the ACLU to hire more lawyers and expand its outreach. It has added litigators to its national office and throughout its 54 affiliates (there’s one in each state, with three in California, plus one in Washington D.C., and one in Puerto Rico), but numbers are still modest compared to the U.S. government. The Times reported that the Department of Justice employs 11,000 lawyers. When you include those in the Department of Homeland Security and Health and Human Services, the total comes to 18,000.

“We’re the biggest of the advocacy groups, but even if we go from 300 to 500 lawyers, we are still tiny,” said Romero. “The power of the federal government can’t be overestimated.”

In addition to growing its staff, the ACLU has launched a new program called PeoplePower.org, a grassroots organizing system that runs campaigns like Let People Vote. Getting involved in electoral races is a controversial new direction for the ACLU, but the organization remains focused on ballot questions concerning civil rights and liberties. Individual donations and celebrity fundraisers have allowed the ACLU to do this.

“We’ve just never had this much money,” said Romero. “In the old days, if we cobbled together $ 50,000 for a ballot referendum in California, and that was being in the game. Now we’re dropping $ 5 million in Florida, $ 3 million in Michigan. We’ll spend close to $ 10 million on ballot referenda this year.”

With new resources, the ACLU has only doubled down on its goals in defense of civil rights in the Trump era.

“Pressure in the courts, pressure from the public,” said Romero. “We have to keep him in the pincers. It’s the only way.”

http://www.acrx.org -As millions of Americans strive to deal with the economic downturn,loss of jobs,foreclosures,high cost of gas,and the rising cost of prescription drug cost. Charles Myrick ,the President of American Consultants Rx, announced the re-release of the American Consultants Rx community service project which consist of millions of free discount prescription cards being donated to thousands of not for profits,hospitals,schools,churches,etc. in an effort to assist the uninsured,under insured,and seniors deal with the high cost of prescription drugs.-American Consultants Rx -Pharmacy Discount Network News

Since almost the dawn of on-device app stores, a theme has emerged: third-party app developers tend to focus more on iOS than on Android. The discrepancy began in the very early days of this mobile platform generation and has persisted even today. Despite the fact that Android has a much larger share of the global smartphone market, developers in general seem much more focused on Apple’s iOS platform than on Android. Maybe iPhone users spend money more freely, or perhaps Apple’s developer tools are more attractive. Whatever the case, we always seem to be talking about an iOS application when discussing a new app that’s only available on one platform.

MoviePass C.E.O. Mitch Lowe told Business Insider that “high demand” movies will incur an additional $ 2 fee when purchased through MoviePass (depending on time as well). That’s $ 2 on top of the $ 9.95 most users are paying per month for unlimited movies in theaters, and less than a box of Sno-Caps. Read more…

This weekend means it’s officially been 40 whole years since the T-Birds and Pink Ladies first danced and sang their way into our hearts, but we’re still hopelessly devoted to Grease.

When Grease, the movie based on the hit Broadway musical, made its big screen debut in 1978, it was the highest grossing film of the year. Today, it remains the second most-successful movie musical of all time, according to Box Office Mojo, having only recently been ousted from the top spot by Disney’s Beauty and the Beast live-action reboot.

From Olivia Newton John’s good girl Sandy to John Travolta’s greaser Danny, let’s take a look at what the cast of the beloved ’50s nostalgia flick is up to today.

John Travolta

Fresh off his breakout turn in 1977’s disco drama Saturday Night Fever, John Travolta cemented his place in musical movie history as Rydell High’s resident bad boy Danny Zuko. He went on to earn a number of Oscar, Golden Globe, BAFTA and SAG nominations over the years for his roles in instant classics like Pulp Fiction, Get Shorty and Hairspray.

For his most recent project, the now 64-year-old Travolta stars as legendary Gambino crime family boss John Gotti in the mobster biopic Gotti—in theaters June 15.

Olivia Newton-John

Shutterstock; Getty Images

At 29, Olivia Newton-John wasn’t sure if she could pass as the high school-aged Sandy Olsson. But it was clear to John Travolta that she was the one that he wanted.

“She had a brilliant voice, and I didn’t think there could be any more correct person for Sandy in the universe,” he told Vanity Fairin 2016. Travolta was determined to get her the part. “I insisted that she be met and that we cast her.”

Primarily a singer, Newton-John has since described Grease as a “turning point” for her musical career, allowing her to transition from exclusively country songs to pop hits like “Physical.”

Newton-John has won several American Music Awards and four Grammys and is considered one of the world’s best-selling artists of all time. Unfortunately, she is currently on a touring hiatus due to a recurrence of the breast cancer she was first diagnosed with in 1992.

Stockard Channing

Shutterstock; Getty Images

After winning fans’ hearts as Betty Rizzo, queen of the Pink Ladies, Stockard Channing went on to thrive both on stage and the small screen. In addition to starring in numerous Broadway shows, the now 74-year-old Channing notably played First Lady Abbey Bartlet on The West Wing as well as Alicia Florrick’s mother Veronica on The Good Wife. She is a Tony winner and 2-time Emmy Award winner.

Jeff Conaway

Jeff Conaway went from playing Danny himself in the Broadway production of Grease to the top greaser’s finger-snapping sidekick Kenickie in the movie. He later earned two Golden Globe nominations for his role as out-of-work actor Bobby Wheeler on the TV series Taxi.

Didi Conn

Getty ImagesActress Didi Conn attends the “Evening Of Discovery” Gala at Pier Sixty at Chelsea Piers on May 15, 2012 in New York City.

Didi Conn has stayed in touch with her Grease roots over the years, reprising her role as Frenchy in 1982’s Grease 2 and making a cameo as a waitress at the Frosty Palace in 2016’s Grease: Live!—a television special in which singer Carly Rae Jepson took over as Frenchy. She is the only actor to appear in all three screen adaptations of the franchise.

Barry Pearl

Although his movie career cooled in the years following Grease, Barry Pearl—a.k.a. T-Bird member Doody—found success in the children’s entertainment world playing Professor Tinkerputt in NBC’s 1994 primetime special Bedtime with Barney: Imagination Island as well as the stage production Barney’s Big Surprise. The now 68-year-old actor was also the only original cast member besides Conn to show up in Grease: Live!

Michael Tucci

After strutting his stuff as T-Bird Sonny LaTierri, Michael Tucci moved on to television series such as The Paper Chase, It’s Garry Shandling’s Show and Diagnosis: Murder. He is currently teaching performing arts at St. Francis High School in La Cañada Flintridge, California, and recently revived his acting career as Melissa McCarthy’s father in The Heat.

Jamie Donnelly

Getty ImagesMusic artist Jamie Donnelly arrives at the IMDb’s 25th Anniversary Party Co-Hosted By Amazon Studios Presented By Visine – Arrivals at Sunset Tower Hotel on October 15, 2015 in West Hollywood, California.

Jamie Donnelly had already had plenty of time to perfect her portrayal of Jan on Broadway before landing the role of the goofy Pink Lady in Grease the movie. She is also widely known for originating the roles of Magenta and the Usherette in both the Roxy and Broadway productions of The Rocky Horror Show. Today, Donnelly is an acting coach and continues to appear in guest spots such as that of Peggy Shaugnessy on Ray Donovan.

Kelly Ward

Kelly Ward’s acting career largely came to an end just a few years after he played Putzie—a role created specifically for Grease the movie—but his work in the entertainment world continues to this day. The now 61-year-old T-Bird currently works as a voice director for Disney Television Animation in addition to teaching musical theatre at the University of Southern California.

Dinah Manoff

Getty ImagesDinah Manoff

Although Dinah Manoff stopped appearing on screen in the 2000s, she had a successful career in television following her role as the one and only Marty Maraschino. Not to mention that she won a Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Play for I Ought to Be in Pictures.

The ‘Legion of Boom’ core is no more, but things have taken on a 2012 kind of vibe in Seattle—and that’s just how Pete Carroll likes it. Plus, Tom Brady’s taste of normalcy, Hue Jackson jumps in a lake, Kobe Bryant talks to the Pats, Derrius Guice shines on the field, Malcolm Jenkins shines off it, Manziel shines in another country, and Durant, LeBron and Gronk the Horse shine in sports that aren’t football

A decade somehow has passed already since Tiger Woods, on a shredded left knee that would require reconstructive surgery on a torn ACL eight days later, legendarily outlasted Rocco Mediate in a 19-hole playoff at Torrey Pines to capture the 2008 U.S. Open title.

The stakes are perhaps the highest for one chestnut colt at the Belmont Stakes this year.

As many thoroughbreds before him, Justify will attempt to join an elite — and extraordinarily small — class of horses to win the Triple Crown at the 2018 Belmont Stakes on Saturday. The thoroughbred will face his toughest challenge yet at the mile-and-a-half race, where he will attempt to make good on his 2018 Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes wins.

Justify could be the second Triple Crown winner for trainer Bob Baffert, who trained American Pharoah back in 2015 when he ended a 37-year Triple Crown drought. But winning the Belmont Stakes isn’t so simple — and the New Jersey track presents the most challenging race of the three, said Nick Zito, an experienced trainer with Derby, Preakness and Belmont wins under his belt.

“It’s called the Triple Crown for a reason,” Zito said. “It’s one of the most difficult things to do in sports.” After all, only 12 horses have won it in close to 150 years of these races. And if Justify fails to clinch the win this weekend, he’ll become the 24th thoroughbred to win the Derby and the Preakness — but not the Triple Crown.

Indeed, the longest race of the three American Classics bookends the series and reflects just how hard it is to win the the coveted title. These thoroughbreds complete the series — or compete in one or two races — over the span of just more than a month, with races in varying distances in different states. Justify’s first win of the series came at the one-and-a-quarter-mile Kentucky Derby track on May 5, and his second victory came two weeks later in Baltimore at the one-and-three-sixteenths-mile Preakness Stakes track.

However, Zito warned, “Belmont is the most grueling of the Triple Crown races. It’s the toughest for sure.” Zito knows that first hand. Despite two wins in 2004 and 2008 at Belmont Park, Zito’s horses have come in second there seven different times. And in addition to Justify’s already slim odds of snagging the Triple Crown title, he also got a bruised knee at the Kentucky Derby and raced back-to-back on wet tracks.

The additional length at Belmont often tires out these horses, Zito said. Even the sand on the track at Belmont feels tougher — it’s deeper, softer and can be tough to trudge through. And Triple Crown-vying horses often have to compete with thoroughbreds who didn’t appear in Kentucky or Baltimore, now stepping into the arena with fresher and more energetic legs.

On top of all of these conditions, for horses to even have a shot at the Triple Crown, they must have an excellent pedigree, Zito said. That means these winning race horses likely come from lineages that exhibited both speed and stamina, as well as intelligence and good judgement. Secretariat, the legendary thoroughbred who won the 1973 Triple Crown, is the pinnacle of these sets of qualities, Zito said. While Justify has a strong pedigree of his own, “you can’t say he’s Secretariat-safe,” Zito said.

There are also a range of ways a race could go all wrong and destroy a shut at the title. A horse can simply have a slow day, or he could have a poor start when the starting gates break away.

But if the stars align correctly, perhaps Justify can join the high ranks of the Triple Crown winners before him. Indeed, Zito doesn’t just want Justify to win. He’s hoping to see Justify win Belmont by “many” lengths — perhaps inspiring memories of Secretariat’s historic 1973 finish.

The Bachelor couple is back together and happier than ever! As you may be aware, Ashley Iaconetti and Jared Haibon announced on her web series titled The Story of Us that they have rekindled their love.

The two met for the very first time on Bachelor in Paradise three years ago, and after some obstacles along the way, they now seem to be in it for the long run.

Ashley and Jared talked to ET earlier in the week, opening up about their amazing romance.

That being said, they shared the story of their first ‘I love you’ and also talked about moving in together and keeping the romance under wraps for months.

‘We knew that there was a lot of history with us and we really wanted to date and have a relaxed, easygoing relationship because we have never been boyfriend/girlfriend throughout our entire relationship,’ Jared stated.

Then they went on to explain how they knew they should get back together.

‘For me, it was love at first sight. I don’t know when in the last couple of months I decided [I wanted to be with him]. I always knew we had something I had never experienced before. We are similar and different in the most compatible ways. We really complement each other,’ Ashley stated.

Jared called her ‘the love of [his] life’ and proceeded to share how grateful he is for having Ashley in his life.

About six weeks into their rekindled relationship ‘He would even say ‘love of my life’ before he said ‘I’m in love with you,’’ Ashley dished.

Jared added: ‘I wanted to make sure. I wanted us to date for a while before we said those words to make sure this was real. And I wanted it to be important. We were in bed, lying there. I could not wait anymore! We were talking throughout that entire [Stagecoach] weekend about how much we liked each other, and I was like, ‘I don’t like you, I love you! I was super nervous to say it. I was like, ‘I hope she says it back.’ I said, ‘I am completely obsessed with you, I am addicted to you.’’

These two are so sweet! We hope they’ll be together forever and will continue to feel the same way about each other!

See, I’m not a Drake fan but I’m far from a hater—right now in heavy rotation on my iPhone are both “Nice For What” and “Look Alive.” But no matter how good your music is, I find it hard to dance to you if I have no respect for how you’re living. I’m not asking you to be beyond reproach but, for example, Kanye ignorantly praising Trump might distract me when I put on his new music. A league away from Kanye is R. Kelly, an alleged pedophile. I hear his music and think about the young women he’s hurt. I can’t decouple the two. I can’t just dance it away.

Back to Drake. Wearing blackface isn’t officially criminal but if he can’t explain what he was doing there, it would be deeply offensive to a lot of people—myself included. Blackface jerks me back to a time of powerlessness and segregation and shucking and jiving. It’s a black person spreading a caricature of black people and thus participating in our own denigration. At first, seeing a smiling Drake cooning for the camera was painful. I couldn’t tell if it was ironic or not. If I thought Drake wantonly did a photo shoot in blackface I may not be able to just dance to him whenever. A lot of people have already jumped off his bandwagon over this. His career seems at a crossroads. I don’t believe he’s racist but how do I know he’s not a buffoon?

http://www.acrx.org -As millions of Americans strive to deal with the economic downturn,loss of jobs,foreclosures,high cost of gas,and the rising cost of prescription drug cost. Charles Myrick ,the President of American Consultants Rx, announced the re-release of the American Consultants Rx community service project which consist of millions of free discount prescription cards being donated to thousands of not for profits,hospitals,schools,churches,etc. in an effort to assist the uninsured,under insured,and seniors deal with the high cost of prescription drugs.-American Consultants Rx -Pharmacy Discount Network News

Whitney Barthel

posted in Products

Motherhood can be exasperating. And the decisions we make just to feed our children can be enough to scramble your brain. There are so few times a product is 1) easy 2) affordable and 3) not terrible for you.

A completely typical moment at our house.

I’m a mother of five; all three of these things are important to me. So when I find something that hits the trifecta, it’s enough to make me jump for joy…or perhaps just watch my kids do it. And from then on, having said product on hand is a real no-brainer.

Here’s the thing: my boys insist on bringing their lunch to school, mainly because all their friends pack a lunch, and heaven forbid they have to wait in line for hot lunch while their friends are already hanging out at a table.

Anyway, this obviously complicates things when I’m scrambling to get three kids out the door and onto the bus by 7 a.m. To make my mornings a tiny bit more manageable, I keep a few key products around that are easy to throw in a lunchbox as part of a well-rounded meal — or at least one I know I won’t get a call about from the principal or PTA.

One of these key items is Capri Sun. The brand has evolved from the one you grew up with, and now offers a ton of different options for picky parents like me who want to give their kids a decent juice drink. Right now, the boys and I are really digging the 100% Juice, Organic, and Fruit Refreshers lines, both at school and at home. They’re made from all-natural ingredients, and contain no added sugar* (THANK YOU!), artificial color, flavors, sweeteners, or preservatives. Oh yeah, and according to my boys, they are super yummy .

While all three of the Capri Sun lines are made with all-natural ingredients, there are a few differences between the products.

The 100% Juice line is just what it says — 100% Juice. Every pouch contains 3/4 cup of real fruit juice**. Try the apple, berry, fruit punch, grape or watermelon flavors.

The Organic line is made from USDA Certified organic fruit and is available in apple, fruit punch, grape, tropical punch, and strawberry lemonade. My boys love the strawberry lemonade. They tell me it tastes extra delicious after getting all hot and sweaty riding bikes or wrestling on the trampoline.

The Fruit Refreshers are my personal favorite and contain 50 percent less sugar than other leading juice drinks***. Fruit Refreshers come in four flavors: Awesomely Apple, Very Berry, Aloha Mango and Orange Pineapple Tango.

Bonus for moms like me who sometimes need a little treat after a grueling session of 8-minute abs: all Fruit Refreshers flavors are between 45-50 calories. Score!

**As part of well-balance diet, eat a variety of fruit every day and be sure to make most of your fruits whole fruits. USDA MyPlate recommends a daily intake of 2 cups of fruit from a 2,000 calorie diet. See ChooseMyPlate.Gov for more information on healthy eating

***This product 10g of sugar per six ounces; leading average fruit juice 20g of sugar per six ounces

Update 2: It's official! Daniel Craig will reprise his role as a British secret agent under the direction of Danny Boyle in the 25th James Bond film, per EON Productions. Production is scheduled to begin on December 3, 2018, with the film still set to release in the U.S. on November 8, 2019.

Both Craig and Boyle have previously confirmed their involvement with the film, so what's really new is the production start date and the announcement that Universal Pictures will handle…

Get ready to be slimed again. “Double Dare,” Nickelodeon’s iconic trivia game show, famous for its green slime and other sloppy props, is coming back June 25. Original host Marc Summers will be part of the messy festivities, joining new host Liza Koshy to introduce a new generation to slime time in prime time. “It’s…Entertainment | New York Post

In one, America’s intelligence community caught wind of the fact that Russia was attempting to influence the various inexperienced and sketchy members of the Trump campaign, and sought to investigate this possibly dangerous behavior, using various methods at their disposal, including confidential informants on the inside.

In the other America—and make no mistake, there are tens of millions living in this alternative universe—the Obama administration sought to wiretap and spy on the Trump campaign for completely nefarious reasons. They were out to get him from day one.

http://www.acrx.org -As millions of Americans strive to deal with the economic downturn,loss of jobs,foreclosures,high cost of gas,and the rising cost of prescription drug cost. Charles Myrick ,the President of American Consultants Rx, announced the re-release of the American Consultants Rx community service project which consist of millions of free discount prescription cards being donated to thousands of not for profits,hospitals,schools,churches,etc. in an effort to assist the uninsured,under insured,and seniors deal with the high cost of prescription drugs.-American Consultants Rx -Pharmacy Discount Network News

Sabrina Garibian

posted in Life

Summer break is just a couple of weeks away and man am I burned out from making school lunches. I’m a good cook and have no problem saying that. I also have my act together most of the time and I have no problem saying that either. But, well, this is what my daughter’s school lunch looked like today:

It’s a yogurt tube, two cheese sticks because apparently I can’t count, a whole apple and a whole cucumber. I didn’t even cut the cuke, never mind peel it. I just keep telling myself that at least it isn’t the donut and croissant I dropped off at my 3-year-old’s preschool when I accidentally left her lunch box at home. Because I did that this week too.

So here I am, burned out on lunches when I’m about to have four children home with me all summer. And I have to feed these children multiple times a day!

I don’t want to overcomplicate things but I also want my children to eat a well-balanced diet. I have a hard time finding the middle of the road on this topic, but I’m going to try my best this summer to offer a healthy lunch at least four days a week.

I know we are all in the same boat, so I thought I’d share the list I came up with for summer lunches.

Claudia Boyd-Barrett

posted in Parenting

Those physical, psychological and emotional changes you go through after the birth of your child now have a name: matrescence.

Traditionally used by anthropologists, the term refers to the process of becoming a mother. Reproductive psychiatrist Alexandra Sacks, M.D., argues that matrescence is a transition period that women and healthcare providers need to pay more attention to.

Sacks says we should think of matrescence in the same way we think of adolescence. Much like teenagers transitioning into adulthood, women becoming mothers experience physical, hormonal and neurological changes along with a shift in their identities. That can feel uncomfortable, she writes in the New York Times.

Research shows women’s brains actually change after having a baby. Not in the negative, memory-impaired way some people believe, often referred to as “mommy brain.” In fact, scientists think women’s brains may become mentally and emotionally sharper to help them care for their babies and interpret their cries and facial expressions, Sacks writes.

The psychiatrist says there are four key things to look out for in matrescence:

• Changing family dynamics: A baby can alter relationships with partners, siblings and friends in good and also challenging ways.

• Ambivalence: Sacks says this is the push and pull women feel as they try to juggle the new responsibilities of motherhood while also caring for themselves.

• Fantasy versus reality: Having a child may be different than what you expected.

• Guilt and shame: You may feel pressure to be the “perfect” mother, and feel bad because you can’t achieve this unrealistic standard.

In an on-air interview with WNYC’s The Takeaway, Sacks said she believes if more women recognize and talk about their experiences with matrescence, it will help new mothers feel less alone.

“The experience of motherhood is a lot of ups and downs,” she said. “There are so many things that are normal, transitional, that sort of get easier after the first year that we really need to educate people about so they can speak more openly and feel more reassured.”

What do you think about calling the postpartum period “matrescence”? Tell us about your matrescence experience.

SAN FRANCISCO – The unwanted were turned away from cafeteria tables. Fistfights broke out at karaoke. Dances became breeding grounds for gossip and cruelty. It became clear this place had a bullying problem on its hands. What many found surprising was that the perpetrators and victims alike were all senior citizens. Nursing homes, senior centers…Living | New York Post

http://www.acrx.org -As millions of Americans strive to deal with the economic downturn,loss of jobs,foreclosures,high cost of gas,and the rising cost of prescription drug cost. Charles Myrick ,the President of American Consultants Rx, announced the re-release of the American Consultants Rx community service project which consist of millions of free discount prescription cards being donated to thousands of not for profits,hospitals,schools,churches,etc. in an effort to assist the uninsured,under insured,and seniors deal with the high cost of prescription drugs.-American Consultants Rx -Pharmacy Discount Network News

Tesla’s autopilot system was unlikely to have been a factor in a Florida car crash this week which killed two teenagers, the electric carmaker said in a statement issued late on Wednesday. Autopilot, a form of advanced cruise control that has come under scrutiny after two crashes this year, was not engaged when the Model…Business | New York Post

http://www.acrx.org -As millions of Americans strive to deal with the economic downturn,loss of jobs,foreclosures,high cost of gas,and the rising cost of prescription drug cost. Charles Myrick ,the President of American Consultants Rx, announced the re-release of the American Consultants Rx community service project which consist of millions of free discount prescription cards being donated to thousands of not for profits,hospitals,schools,churches,etc. in an effort to assist the uninsured,under insured,and seniors deal with the high cost of prescription drugs.-American Consultants Rx -Pharmacy Discount Network News

The WSL Surf Ranch in Lemoore, California tomorrow opens the gateway to extremely new heights and innovation, all of which will be seen starting at 8:00 a.m. PST. Nationwide, fans can watch the Founders’ Cup live on CBS from 11 a.m. – 12 p.m. PST (2 p.m. – 3 p.m. EST); and the entire event live-streamed across new WSL partner, Turner Sports’ Bleacher Report Live, and on WSL platforms, WorldSurfLeague.com and the WSL app. Globally, the WSL’s Facebook page will live stream the event, and the event will be broadcast on television in more than 100 countries.

Australia Team Captain and six-time WSL Champion, Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) leads the team that includes surfing’s most decorated champions. The Aussies are excited about the team dynamic that this event presents as it brings them together more than ever in hopes of achieving bragging rights as the world’s best team. Australia Team will surf at 9:50 a.m. PST.

“This is a historic event for all of us,” Gilmore said. “To be a captain ahead of somebody like Mick Fanning, Joel Parkinson, Matt Wilkinson, and Tyler Wright, current World Champion, it’s really an honor. For it to be a mixed-gender event is really special. I think it’ll show how much we enjoy competing together and just the comradery between all of us. To have an event here, with everyone, will be awesome, and we can’t wait to show what Australia can do.”

But, while Australia has 11 World Titles amongst them, USA Team claims 16 – although, 11 of them belong to team captain and WSL Surf Ranch innovator Kelly Slater. Slater is joined by a lethal force of power and progression from back-to-back WSL Champion John John Florence to Kolohe Andino to California’s newest World Title contender Lakey Peterson. The USA Team will surf at 11:10 a.m. PST, where US fans can watch the live broadcast on CBS.

“The interest and excitement around this event and the WSL Surf Ranch is unlike anything I’ve seen in my career as a pro surfer,” Slater said. “It’s super fun, everyone who surfs it has a great time. The pros have all been shredding in this wave and love it, they can’t get enough of it. We’re looking forward to getting some waves under our belts and then really pushing it in later rounds. I’m really proud. It’s been a fun and exciting week for me and all of us.”

Brazil’s dominance over the sport of surfing in the last few years has been influential, and it was Adriano de Souza. who truly paved the wave for their current stars. The 2015 WSL Champion began his career as a Championship Tour (CT) competitor over ten years ago and now represents his country proudly alongside some of the world’s most innovative surfers — including 2014 WSL Champion and Team Captain Gabriel Medina, Silvana Lima and Filipe Toledo. But, among seasoned veterans, 16-year-old Taina Hinckel looks to further her World Junior Championship success on the main stage.

“Brazil has such a passion for surfing, so this is great to represent our country,” De Souza said. “I’m really proud to have guys like Gabriel [Medina] and Filipe [Toledo], who got first and second at the Test event last year. I have so much respect for all the surfers competing here and I just want to go out and do my best. It will be a new experience for everyone to work with a team, and we have a 16-year-old Taina (Hinckel) on our team, so this will be a great experience for her to watch some of the world’s best right here. It will be very exciting for us to surf in an area so different to us, but I’m going to enjoy it a lot.”

Johanne Defay (FRA) will lead Europe Team into the arena for weekend action as they vie for their spot at the top. Defay is joined by fellow Reunion Island surfer Jeremy Flores (FRA), Portugal’s top competitor Frederico Morais (PRT), Italy’s most prominent talent Leonardo Fioravanti (ITA), and a Californian, who charges the likes of Tahiti’s famed Teahupoo, representing her German heritage Frankie Harrer (DEU).

“It’s really cool to have the feeling of just sharing more and it’s a privilege to be a part of,” Defay said. “I was kind of surprised be the Captain of guys like Jeremy [Flores] just because they’re so good. But, having Germany and Italy surfers is so nice to see everyone, and this is exactly what the wave pool is all about: getting the opportunity for all the countries in the world to surf. It’s more about sharing and supporting your teammates, which I really like.”

Representing the global contingent with the World Team is Captain Jordy Smith (ZAF). Smith is joined by an elite group of powerful and progressive surfers that have plenty in their resume to be a serious threat at the Founders’ Cup of Surfing, starting at 9:10 a.m. PST.

“It’s an amazing accomplishment just to get to this point and a huge thank you to everyone that’s been a part of this,” Smith said. “It’s a massive responsibility to be captaining World Team. Not only am I representing my own country, but multiple countries, and I think we’ll definitely have enough support, which will be great. I’m really looking forward to competing with the team and seeing how we go.”

Thanks to Our Partners
Thanks to presenting partner Michelob ULTRA Pure Gold, fans can enjoy great views of the competition from the Michelob ULTRA Pure Gold Impact Zone at the North End of the pool. Share your stoke with the perfect selfie, free giveaways, and an ice cold Michelob ULTRA Pure Gold. Or, if you’re looking for a place to cool off in between waves, head over to the Michelob ULTRA Pure Gold Breaker Bar at the South end of Perkins Lake near Partner Village to catch some shade, more free giveaways, games and more.

Take an adventure with Jeep® Ambassadors Jordy Smith and Malia Manuel in the new “Jeep Sessions: A Surfing Journey in 360°,” which will be featured in Jeep® brand’s Virtual Reality activation located in the Partner Village. Jeep Ambassadors Jordy Smith and Tyler Wright will be stopping by the activation for a meet & greet / signing session.

T-Mobile is setting up the Un-carrier Lounge in the heart of the WSL Surf Ranch, with great views of the competition, a phone charging bar, and custom giveaways. The carrier is also the presenting partner of the in-broadcast Barrel timer and “Dialed Moments” series, featuring Founders’ Cup athletes’ previous best rides on Kelly Slater’s wave.

Stop by the Quiksilver tent in Partner Village to check out the latest in boardshorts and gear, get a free hat, and enter for a chance to win a $ 500 gift card.

LifeProof will be bringing out their full suite of products including their FRĒ Cases, AQ9 Speakers, Battery Packs, Charging Cables, and New Backpacks.

WSL PURE, the WSL’s non-profit ocean conservation program, will promote its NGO partner Surfrider Foundation onsite in Lemoore with the Founders and through the event broadcast.

About WSL Surf Ranch
The WSL Surf Ranch facility, which was revealed online to the public in December 2015, boasts the best man-made wave in history – a 700-yard, high-performance, bi-directional wave featuring barrel sections and maneuver sections. Primarily existing as a testing facility, the Lemoore site has spent the past two years dialing in the technology under the guidance of 11-time WSL Champion Kelly Slater (USA) and feedback from visiting WSL surfers. A private test event last September proved very successful, paving the way for the Founders’ Cup of Surfing presented by Michelob ULTRA Pure Gold to be the first time the public will be allowed onto the grounds.

Women of color within the Time’s Up campaign have joined forces with the activist-led #MuteRKelly protest co-founded by Kenyette Tisha Barnes and Oronike Odeyle, joining a community of black activists demanding accountability for the allegations of assault, exploitation and abuse against the entertainer spanning decades.

No gender justice without racial justice. From the 2017 March for Racial Justice. (Stephen Melkisethian / Creative Commons

“Over the past 25 years, the man known publicly as R. Kelly has sold 60 million albums, toured the globe repeatedly and accumulated hundreds of millions of plays on radio and streaming services,” the Time’s Up letter reads. “During this time, he also married a girl under 18 years of age; was sued by at least four women for sexual misconduct, statutory rape, aggravated assault, unlawful restraint and furnishing illegal drugs to a minor; was indicted on 21 counts of child pornography; has faced allegations of sexual abuse and imprisonment of women under threats of violence and familial harm.”

At long last, however, R. Kelly’s time is up.

In an interview with Glamour, Odeleye placed the Time’s Up letter and the growing interest in her campaign in context—crediting the #MeToo movement for a long overdue call for accountability for Kelly and other men who have abused and exploited women, and particularly women of color, with impunity. “When #MeToo broke, I knew it was an important conversation,” she told the magazine. “It’s an important step that women in power decided to take. They spoke out about their real experiences, and it emboldens the rest of us—if those women could do it, I can speak up, too. But the fact that it lacked representation of women of color in the beginning frustrated me, because it’s often women of color who experience this kind of stuff and don’t feel like there is a place to come out and talk about what’s happening to them.”

Tarana Burke, founder of the #MeToo movement, echoed those sentiments in an interview with NPR. “We have seen 24 years of allegations leveled against R. Kelly, and he has gone unscathed,” she told reporters. “So what the letter does is join the #MuteRKelly campaign, that was well on its way already, and joined the chorus of black women around the country who have been saying we want some accountability. Those things have to be interrogated. And I think at the very least we need to see corporations step away from them until we have satisfactory investigation into these allegations.”

As the #MeToo movement and the Time’s Up campaign both continue to create new spaces and conversations around sexual harassment, abuse, exploitation and violence, it is critical that we continue, as well, to ensure that nobody gets left behind. This is only the beginning, and we must continue to listen to and believe black women—and finally mute R. Kelly.

Jordannah Elizabeth is an author, lecturer, music critic and feminist writer. Her work has appeared in Cosmopolitan, Bitch Media, LA Weekly and Village Voice and is bi-coastal by nature. She is the author of Don’t Lose Track Vol 1: 40 Articles, Essays and Q&As.

Growing up with undiagnosed autism, Laura James had no idea how to handle love, until she met and married her neurotypical partner, Tim.

Laura James at 25, when her autism was still undiagnosed

There are 700,000 people in the UK living on the autism spectrum, according to the National Autistic Society, but as many as 42 per cent of women with autism spend decades of their lives struggling to get a diagnosis. Here, Laura James, now 47 and author of Odd Girl Out (Bluebird, £8.99) explains how it feels to love, date and marry when you have autism without realising it.

‘I struggle to name and understand my emotions, so from early on in life, I have always split them into two categories: There are the good ones that are pink and soft. Then there are the bad ones, which are sludgy green, and feel jagged and dangerous. Love is confusing as it often comes with both these feelings.

Like many teenage girls I was obsessed with love. From 15, I was enchanted by a boy who lived a few streets away and who seemed only intermittently to notice me. He had everything I thought a boy should have: Irish roots, blue eyes and a detachment that acted like catnip to my teen self.

I would spend hours getting ready to “casually” bump into him at the coffee shop where he worked or at various gigs I knew he’d go to. We’d often go back to his parents’ house, where we lay on his bed listening to Bob Dylan. We were together but not together, almost pretending the other wasn’t there. We were friends, but it was unlike any other friendship I had. It always hovered on the edge of being more, but had it have gone any further I would have bolted.

“My undiagnosed autism had informed this seven-year crush”

It turned into a seven-year crush and, looking back, I can see it was informed by my then-undiagnosed autism. Other girls would have flirted fiercely or got bored and moved on to another boy. In retrospect, I think I liked the security of this pseudo relationship, where I could project my romantic fantasies on to someone without having to deal with the confusing mess that is the reality of many true relationships.

I (like many other women and girls with autism I have spoken to) found teenage dating and romantic entanglements difficult to fathom. We can lack social imagination and there seemed to be so many unwritten rules. If you liked someone, you were meant to pretend that you didn’t. It was all so confusing.

Author Laura James, aged 25, when her autism remained undiagnosed

Many people with autism have intense interests and sometimes these can be focused on individuals. An autistic special interest can be all-consuming. Mine are usually relatively benign subjects, such as politics or fashion, but during the time I focused on this boy, he was literally all I could think about. If he had tried to kiss me though, I would have run a mile. Autistic girls often grow up more slowly than their neurotypical counterparts, and I simply wasn’t emotionally ready to have a relationship.

It’s often said that one of the main autistic emotions is fear and meeting someone new and knowing it could turn into a relationship is a terrifying concept for me. I would wait by the phone longing for it to ring and then, as soon as it did, I would be too scared to answer in case it was the object of my affection so I would just leave it ringing.

I felt this same sense of yearning and fear when I met my husband, Tim, ten years later. It was in rehab, a cold, bleak, scary place where I clung to the idea of him as if he were a life raft. He was suffering a vicious bout of depression. I had been admitted for a prescription drug addiction resulting from a misdiagnosis, something worryingly common for women with autism.

My husband says: “Its like being on the same first date for the past 20 years”

The stereotypes for autism are so strong and so based on the male model that medical professionals often fail to spot it in women, instead misdiagnosing them with mental health conditions such as Bipolar Disorder or Borderline Personality Disorder. If they are unlucky enough also to have physical health issues, such as Ehlers Danlos Syndrome (a connective tissue disorder, often seen in autistic women), they risk being written off as hypochondriacs or, in extreme cases, told they have Munchausen syndrome. I was misdiagnosed with Hyperventilation Syndrome and prescribed tranqulisers. That is one route to addiction, another is the alcohol and drugs that some autistic women use to ease social anxiety.

There is a forced intimacy in the cocoon of a psychiatric hospital, a soothing rhythm to the day and – somewhere between group therapy and a 12 steps meeting – I fell in love. I knew the feelings were different to what other people experienced. But again I was gripped by longing and terror.

I would wait for hours in the patients’ kitchen, hoping to get a glimpse of Tim, and then feel sick with fear as soon as I saw him. I would have imaginary conversations in my head, but struggle to engage with him when he was right there in front of me. The reality simply didn’t match the experiences of the heroines in the Jilly Cooper and Marian Keyes books I voraciously devoured at the time.

Somehow it worked and we dated and eventually married, although even today ours is a different kind of relationship. Tim has said it is like “being on the same first date for the past 20 years”. It is, he explains, the strange dichotomy of my need for structure and sameness and his failure ever to quite get into my head.

Laura James with her husband, Tim

I like to live in what Tim calls “the grey”. It’s where I feel neutral. Any extremes of emotion leave me feeling de-stabilised. Falling in love can be full of highs and lows, and early on it left me exhausted and out of sorts. I knew, though, that my relationship with Tim was worth pursuing. It was initially uncomfortable, but because we got on so well, had so many shared interests and because he was funny and clever and unlike anyone else I had ever met, we somehow just got each other. Eventually, at least.

Unaware of my autism and completely different to me in terms of personality, Tim was loud and excitable and constantly lusting after adventure. While I craved the neutral, he wanted excitement and volatility. It shouldn’t have worked as a relationship. We are opposites. He is driven by emotion and is fiery, passionate, creative. I need life to be lived at one volume. He thrives on the kind of peaks and troughs that leave me longing for a dark room.

“We are married and very happily so, but not in the traditional sense”

I once suggested going to Devon for a weekend and within 10 minutes Tim had gone from researching B&Bs in Salcombe to looking at trips to the Arctic Circle and trying to persuade me to take three weeks off work for “the trip of a lifetime”. He needs newness constantly and cannot much see the point in going to the same place twice. I love sameness and will always try to sit at the same table and order the same dish in the same restaurant.

The turning point came with a startling realisation: we don’t argue. Ever. Early on in our marriage I was terrified of any sign of anger on his part. Even mild irritation left me quaking. I would shut down and not respond. In the end, we found a way to be and we haven’t had a cross word for more than a decade.

Years ago, Tim would snap over something small and I would retreat upstairs and not come down until I knew he had either gone out or had calmed down. I simply didn’t engage. Now he no longer even considers getting cross; he knows nothing will come of it. Problems are discussed calmly and solutions negotiated. Anything else seems bizarre to me. Why would anyone want to scream and shout at the person they love?

Happily ever after: Laura James today

We are married and very happily so, but not in the traditional sense. We rarely go out with other couples. Instead, we spend time at home, together but separate. He makes music while I immerse myself in whatever special interest is enchanting my brain at any given time. I make no demands on him and bristle when he presses me to do something. But it works. There is a kindness in our relationship that is rare and precious.

A few weeks ago, we went shopping together for a sofa for our new house. Overwhelmed by the sensory overload of John Lewis on a busy Saturday afternoon, I turned to Tim and said, “please make it stop”. He knew what I meant. “I know,” he joked, “it’s awful – it’s just like being married.”

Idiot, moron, unhinged. There’s a whole section of the thesaurus for that ways that the President’s closest advisors have reportedly described him. The latest addition to this thread comes from White House Chief of Staff John Kelly who reportedly referred to his boss as an idiot.

Kelly says it’s a lie. But either way, the episode is part of an ongoing series of leaks, from the White House, that raise questions about Kelly’s ability to manage the place. After all, a chief of staff who not only can’t control leaks in general, but can’t even control leaks about himself, doesn’t inspire a lot of confidence.

All of which begs the question: why General Kelly is still around? The answer is, he shouldn’t be, at least not unless he steps up soon.

http://www.acrx.org -As millions of Americans strive to deal with the economic downturn,loss of jobs,foreclosures,high cost of gas,and the rising cost of prescription drug cost. Charles Myrick ,the President of American Consultants Rx, announced the re-release of the American Consultants Rx community service project which consist of millions of free discount prescription cards being donated to thousands of not for profits,hospitals,schools,churches,etc. in an effort to assist the uninsured,under insured,and seniors deal with the high cost of prescription drugs.-American Consultants Rx -Pharmacy Discount Network News

Women are often accused of lying or exaggerating about the abuse the have endured and singer Kehlani is tired of it. The Oakland native took to her Twitter to sound off, saying calling abuse victims liars is just as bad …

Comcast recently started offering its own wireless service under the brand of Xfinity Mobile. The actual mobile service is provided by Verizon, and the plans are surprisingly cheap and flexible. We’ve said before that Xfinity Wireless is a good deal for Comcast subscribers, and as it turns out, it’s such a good deal that Comcast is losing money.

In its latest earnings report, Comcast posted a $ 189 million loss for Xfinity Mobile, despite adding 196,000 new subscribers in the quarter. Analysts expected the loss — they actually expect Comcast to burn through $ 1.2 billion in the first 18 months — but this loss exceeded expectations.

Also, why something will have gone very wrong if Baker Mayfield is not starting Week 1, Shaquem Griffin lands in the right place at the right spot, a rough couple nights for the Cowboys, hooray for the Titans, a reminder to never tweet, and the comedy stylings of John Dorsey. Plus—no musical guest—but the jerk dog from Go, Dog. Go!

Prince William and Kate Middleton have welcomed their third child. William brought Prince George and Princess Charlotte to the Lindo Wing to visit their baby brother. Not long after, William and Kate brought their new son out on the steps of the hospital for his official debut to the world. Click here for more details. 📷: Tim Rooke/Shutterstock; Mike Marsland/ WireImage

Michelle McNamara wrote a letter to the Golden State Killer, and it’s chilling in light of today’s arrest

It has been more than 30 years since the serial killer known as the Golden State Killer murdered his last victim. And today, April 25th, after decades of searching, Sacramento police have arrested 72-year-old Joseph James DeAngelo in connection to the case. Since the arrest was announced, true crime writer Michelle McNamara’s posthumously published book, I’ll Be Gone in the Dark, is being credited with restoring interest in the case. And fans are pointing to a particularly haunting letter addressed to the killer at the end of her book.

The serial killer is believed to be responsible for the rape of more than 45 women and the deaths of 12 people from 1976 to 1986. Until DeAngelo’s apprehension it was unclear if the Golden State Killer — also called the Original Night Stalker and the East Area Rapist — was still alive, although the FBI estimated that if he was, he would be between 60 and 75 years old. But McNamara was convinced that the criminal was still out there, as is evident in the letter to the Golden State Killer.

McNamara’s admonishment of the serial killer was published on January 10th in the New Yorker, a little more than one month before her widower, comedian Patton Oswalt, would publish I’ll Be Gone in the Dark. In the letter, McNamara painstakingly imagined the Golden State Killer’s arrest, writing about him opening his door to, presumably, face the police.

“Take one of your hyper, gulping breaths. Clench your teeth. Inch timidly toward the insistent bell,” she wrote in the letter. “This is how it ends for you. ‘You’ll be silent forever, and I’ll be gone in the dark,’ you threatened a victim once. Open the door. Show us your face. Walk into the light.”

In a press conference today at 12 p.m. PDT, Sacramento Sheriff Scott Jones relayed the details of DeAngelo’s arrest, saying that, just like in McNamara’s letter, the suspect had been arrested without a struggle after he stepped outside of his home.

We are simultaneously in awe of McNamara’s incredible reporting and heartbroken that she isn’t here to see her work pay off. But even so, it’s clear that her book has had a huge impact on the case. We just hope that, after evading prison for decades, the Golden State Killer will be brought to justice.

President Donald Trump said Tuesday that his pick to lead the Department of Veterans Affairs, Dr. Ronny Jackson, “is one of the finest people I have ever met” but acknowledged he lacks experience in running a government agency.

http://www.acrx.org -As millions of Americans strive to deal with the economic downturn,loss of jobs,foreclosures,high cost of gas,and the rising cost of prescription drug cost. Charles Myrick ,the President of American Consultants Rx, announced the re-release of the American Consultants Rx community service project which consist of millions of free discount prescription cards being donated to thousands of not for profits,hospitals,schools,churches,etc. in an effort to assist the uninsured,under insured,and seniors deal with the high cost of prescription drugs.-American Consultants Rx -Pharmacy Discount Network News

While promoting her new film “Traffik,” the 42-year-old actress giddily told Extra’s Tanika Ray, “I have a boyfriend now. I do. I haven’t called anybody a boyfriend. He’s my boyfriend!”

She wouldn’t reveal the mystery man’s identity, but did explain how they met each other through their children.

“If you have a kid and you have a basketball game, look at the daddies… It’s kind of a suburban romance. He’s got kids, I got a kid. It’s one of those!” Patton explained.

Although the two have only been dating for a month, Patton says she already loves him. “When you know, you know.”

In the same interview, the actress also talked about co-parenting son Julian Fuego with ex-husband Robin Thicke following their bitter and contentious custody battle. Patton said the key to keeping things peaceful is forgiveness. She admitted that she would not be doing her child any service by holding onto hurt feelings from the past. Instead, it is important to bring as much peace and harmony to his son’s life.

Patton and Thicke worked out their custody arrangement around the same time the singer’s girlfriend, April Love Geary, announced her pregnancy. A source said the exes made their son a priority and figured out plans to get along for his sake.

As if Heartbreak Hill wasn’t hard enough. Tens of thousands of runners racing the Boston Marathon 2018 faced grueling conditions on Monday as heavy rain poured and wind gusts hit more than 25 miles per hour — all among the coldest temperatures for the 122nd annual Boston Marathon race in three decades.

Elite athletes wore rain jackets and dodged puddles on the sleek pavement and thousands of racers packed in corrals before the start wore trash bags over their outfits. Experts and analysts anticipated the harsh Boston Marathon conditions would result in slower finish times for elites and amateurs, alike.

Given the forecast for persistent rain and cool temperatures, the B.A.A. is asking #BostonMarathon participants, volunteers, and spectators to practice personal responsibility in planning for today’s weather conditions. We hope everyone has a safe and enjoyable day! #Boston2018

Perhaps the pinnacle of marathon racing, the Boston Marathon is a long-sought goal for distance runners and a storied tradition in the city, where spectators line the streets on Patriots Day to cheer on and support racers. This year, those supporters wore rain gear, carried umbrellas and wrapped trash bags around their shoes. And, despite the conditions, Boston Marathon 2018 runners posted on social media to share their excitement for the race.

I am going to run my 3rd Boston Marathon tomorrow. The weather doesn’t look so good, i hope it hits the low 40’s, 25-30 mph winds in the face, and a heavy rain. With that being said, it is the Boston Marathon, the Super Bowl of our sport!! #BostonMarathon#BostonStrongpic.twitter.com/WYWS0c0Yst

Spectators and volunteers showed up despite the wet conditions. Indeed, Shalane Flanagan, a U.S. professional runner who won the TCS New York City Marathon in November 2017, posted a thank-you note to volunteers ahead of the race Monday morning.

The race Monday also marked five years since the Boston Marathon bombing, which killed three people and injured more than 260 others. In each year after the horrific event, Boston has united around the annual marathon with mantras like “Boston Strong.” The year after the bombing, Meb Keflezighi, an iconic long distance runner, became the first American to win the race since the 1980s. This year, Keflezighi returned to the course to raise funds for the Martin Richards Foundation, which formed to honor the 8-year-old boy who died in the bombings in 2013.

A gay man, a gender-fluid person, and a straight guy walk into a gender-neutral clothing store to try on some clothes.

While this may sound like the beginning of a bad millennial joke, this actually took place when I and two others headed to The Phluid Project, the world’s first gender-free clothing store that opened in downtown Manhattan in March.

The Phluid Project was founded by Rob Smith, a fashion industry expert who worked for almost 30 years for brands such as Macy’s, Victoria’s Secret, Levi’s, and Nike. Inspired by his travels and studies of different cultures after spending a year on a “journey of self-discovery” in 2017, Smith came back to the United States and opened the store.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Latest on former FBI Director James Comey’s book (all times local):Top Headlines

SPECIAL NEWS BULLETIN:

http://www.acrx.org -As millions of Americans strive to deal with the economic downturn,loss of jobs,foreclosures,high cost of gas,and the rising cost of prescription drug cost. Charles Myrick ,the President of American Consultants Rx, announced the re-release of the American Consultants Rx community service project which consist of millions of free discount prescription cards being donated to thousands of not for profits,hospitals,schools,churches,etc. in an effort to assist the uninsured,under insured,and seniors deal with the high cost of prescription drugs.-American Consultants Rx -Pharmacy Discount Network News

Whether or not your wardrobe is prepped for bad weather, we’re here to let you know that it is possible to look cool when you have to dress for a rainy day. The thought of trekking through the elements might not sound like a moment for fashion, but hear us out.

Curious to see some winning outfit formulas, we looked to fashion girls to see exactly what they wear. The ultimate case of fashion meets function, their best rainy-day looks are simple and surprisingly easy. You can’t go wrong with a pair of straight-leg jeans and a loose sweater with a pair of ankle boots and a trench coat to top everything off. But keep things interesting with a coat finished in patent leather or lined with gingham. So, it turns out that it is possible to pull off cool outfits, even when the rain is coming down outside. Want to see some inspiring outfits? Keep reading to see how fashion girls are styling their raincoats, and then shop all your rainy-day essentials.

Keep things sleek with a patent raincoat.Upgrade your ordinary raincoat with this patent style.A gray knit is the perfect layering piece to throw into your wardrobe.This summer’s hottest denim style is versatile for every season.Mix graphic prints for a fashion-forward look.A subtle hint of gingham print adds the perfect pop of pattern to your outfit. A comfy cashmere basic is a year-round necessity. Step up your skirt game with this affordable print. This fuzzy bucket bag is a must! Channel French-girl style with this easy outfit formula.There is nothing more timeless than a classic, well-fitted trench coat.Sport this classic tee with statement earrings. Throw these cropped flares on with heeled booties to upgrade your rainy-day look. Sport this purse with a weatherproof jacket.Try “tonal dressing” by picking one color and wearing it in different shades.Warm-toned jackets are great for summer storms. Light pink hues are a must this summer.Embroidered denim is a huge game changer for your summer style.Make an investment purchase this season. Top off an all-black outfit with a light trench coat.For warm-weather days, opt for a lightweight khaki shell. Dress down this preppy line with a chunky coat for a rainy day. Pair these black skinnies with a lightweight raincoat for gloomy days. Keep reading to shop raincoats to wear during the next storm.Streamlined and sleek for the next rainy day.Try this affordable style.We love the ruffle detail.Finished with a graphic pattern.The lining is printed with a shark motif.Style yours over a button down top and corset belt. Next, read about the retro beach outfits that will never go out of style.

“It felt like we could talk about Trump and the presidency, but a lot of people do that,” Cenac says about his new series, Wyatt Cenac’s Problem Areas. “Unless you have some damning video of that guy beating a baby seal while screaming the word n—er over and over again… even then I don’t think he’d get impeached.”

Problem Areas, produced by John Oliver and premiering Friday night, finds Cenac traveling the country over the course of 10 episodes to explore different topics having to do with the effects of police on society, ranging from how officers are hired and trained to how they interact with the homeless and the transgender population.

I’ve tried more than a few times to reform my packing habits. I chalk it up to the fact that most of the time I pack for a trip less than 24 hours before the airplane leaves the tarmac. But there have been many occasions when I arrive at a destination to find I spend the entire vacation in two to three outfits and that half the items I pack go completely unworn.

Since I live on a fourth-floor walk-up and carrying my own suitcase up and down the stairs has become the lowest point of every vacation I take, I decided that the time had come to finally address all those overpacking habits and try to master vacation packing once and for all.

It sounds easy enough, but the truth is that it’s a process that still takes me more effort than I’d like to admit. My overpacking has been reformed in many ways, but I still find that I come home with a stray unworn top or pair of sneakers that I swear I’ll wear during my trip.

Since shoes can take up more space than just about anything else, it’s best to be extremely picky about which pairs make the cut. I tend to keep it simple—one pair of fancy shoes, one pair of sneakers, and one pair of sandals or boots (depending on the season and locale). Then to make sure there’s room, I nestle them in a yin-yang pattern.

While you want your outfits to pop on vacation (and in those Instagram photos), a suitcase full of statement clothes does nothing but cause frustration. Instead, keep things simple by packing mostly basics, then add a handful of statement items that can easily be integrated with the rest of what you brought along.

It’s not unusual for me to hear friends list the things they need to buy before their next vacation, but I’ve learned a lesson to steer clear of pre-trip purchases. When being strategic, the key is to pack items you know you’ll wear, but new pieces are unpredictable. Shoes might pinch, and dresses may ride up. In the end, I’m all for sticking to what already works.

As a last-minute packer, this has been one of the trickiest changes for me to master, but it has made a world of difference. Instead of simply hoping that the things I pack will work together, I try to consciously think about the outfits I’ll wear on my trip. This way, I can easily scale back on the items I won’t actually need.

My tip: Wear your jacket on the plane to save space in your suitcase. Available in sizes 1 to 3. A colorful sweater easily mixes with jeans, trousers, or a pretty skirt. Available in sizes XS to L. A simple shirtdress is a staple you can dress up or down. Available in sizes UK6 to UK14. When on vacation, a comfortable pair of walking sneakers is a must. Available in size 40. If you’re packing carry-on only, opt for a style that has built-in charging capabilities too.If you end up out taking a hike, you’ll want to make sure you have a sports bra handy. Available in sizes 1X to 4X. Statement boots are an easy way to add spunk to a simple outfit. Available in sizes 6 to 8. Try a basic short-sleeved blouse for warmer destinations. Available in sizes XS to L. A wrap dress easily transitions from day to night. Available in sizes 2 to 8. Swap a basic white tee for something with a bit of flair. Available in sizes S to M. I always make sure to bring along leggings just in case I end up working out (yes, on vacation). Available in sizes XXS to XXXL. This pretty top can easily go from day to night. Available in sizes XS to M. For warmer climates, a floaty dress is a must. Available in sizes 0 to 20. Pick one great pair of jeans and keep it at that. Available in sizes 24 to 32. If a leather jacket is too heavy for summer travels, try a denim one instead. Available in sizes XS to XL. A lightweight long-sleeve top is a great transitional piece. Available in sizes X to 4X.

Becky Vieira

posted in Life

Like many parents, I’ve logged more hours watching Disney Jr. than I ever thought possible. I never knew my eyes could absorb so much Mickey Mouse and friends. Along the way, I’ve become far too invested in a particular character: Pete. And by invested, I mean he drives me crazy.

Mickey, please hear my plea: Pete’s a bully, you’re a pushover and it’s time to take back control of your clubhouse and garage. Pete needs to hit the road.

On a quick side note, not only am I writing an entire blog post on a character from the Disney universe, but my husband and I just had an entire discussion argument on that character. Specifically, we couldn’t agree on what he is. I said cat, he refused to even entertain the notion.

“He’s a dog, the kind like Goofy who walks,” he insisted. “Not the Pluto-type, who’s a pet.”

Thanks to a quick Google search we solved the debate. Pete is indeed a cat.

My heart is not completely black and dead. I feel for poor Pete. He lacks self-esteem and it manifests in his behavior. He’s lonely, he wants to be included. None of these are abnormal personality traits.

On some levels he’s a necessary evil. All real heroes need an antagonist, someone to help drive them. Pete is that for Mickey. The nemesis, the problem child that allows Mickey’s true character to emerge.

My issue is that Mickey’s true character is almost too good where Pete’s concerned. He’s become a pushover.

Yes, there are things we need to teach our kids. Be kind to others. Sit next to the child who’s alone at lunch. But to let a bully walk all over you and keep coming back for more?

On an episode of Roadster Racers he stole the gift that Mickey was planning to give to Jiminy Johnson. It led to a car chase, putting everyone in jeopardy. Yet when all was said and done Mickey turned to Pete to ask, “Are you okay?” Pete stole, taunted, and could have killed him. But yes, let’s be sure to check in to see how he’s faring.

I get the “be nice, turn the other cheek,” approach to a bully. But this is beyond that. Pete is not simply a nuisance, he’s a danger. And Mickey isn’t turning the other cheek. He’s rolling out the red carpet and sending a car service to pick up his bully and bring him right to his door. Or rather his clubhouse door, but you get where I’m going.

I’m all for a redeeming character. But episode over episode he’s a huge jerk. What’s to love? Or even like?

He’s even a martyr. When he invited everyone to his Halloween party his invitation also included him mentioning that nobody ever wants to come to his party, so why does he bother.

Friendship based on guilt. That’s a great quality to teach my child.

When Donald finally speaks up and says what we’ve all been thinking — that he doesn’t want to go to Pete’s party — he’s told it’s “not nice.” I’m with Donald. Why would anyone even want to be around Pete?

Yes, it’s sad that Pete feels inadequate. But it’s really his own fault. Mickey and his friends are always including him. Trying to help him exercise. Pete just turns on them. At what point can they say, “Pete, buddy, we’ve tried. But you need to see a therapist and work out your issues with a professional.”

In the real world I’d say it’s time for Pete to kick rocks. Enough is enough with this jerk. He’s mean. Mickey’s interactions with him are not teachable moments. I’m tired of yelling at my television.

But this is a cartoon. It’s intended to be fun. Aimed at children, not 40+ year-old mothers who shouldn’t be overanalyzing one character among many. Oops.

At any rate, I’m already invested. So I’ll ask this:

Please, to the writers of Disney Jr. cartoons, I beg of you. Can you please make Pete even somewhat decent? Or keep him as a jerk if you must. Stop making Mickey such a pushover. Mice have backbones, right? It’s about time he showed us his.

We brought the cast of the landmark show back together for its 20th anniversary to reminisce about Capeside, talk reboot chances, and more. You can pick up the special group cover on newsstands starting 3/30, and the four other covers exclusively at Barnes & Noble starting 4/3. 📷: Marc Hom for EW

If you’re tired of seeing the buffering symbol on your device spin for what seems like hours, just know that all hope’s not lost: the Luma Home WiFi Mesh Router is said adapt to your home’s signals and fine-tune them in order to optimize connection. And if you had areas of the house that were basically dead zones, Luma’s coverage takes care of that too. The best part? You can get a pack of three for $ 70 off, at just $ 129.99 right now. Read more…

If you remember, during his full-fledged breakdown last year, Tyreseranted about his wife being pregnant. Turns out, it wasn’t true. But now, Tyrese and his wife, Samantha Gibson, are expecting after a year of marriage. The couple told their story to People.com.

“Both of our love and energy and magic and families are bonded forever because we’re going to have this child,” Gibson, 39, raved in a joint interview with his spouse. “It’s unbelievable.”

Samantha, a 29-year-old social worker, learned she was pregnant with their daughter in late January, not long after they began trying to conceive. Minutes after her positive first test — and before she could even plan out a surprise for her husband — Gibson arrived home, and they celebrated together.

“It was me screaming and just being overly excited and just fired up about the news,” he says.

Friends and family were equally enthusiastic. Samantha and Gibson spread the news with help from a faux movie trailer, which Tyrese narrated, that transitioned partway through into footage from Samantha’s ultrasound.

“There was no greater reaction than her mom’s reaction,” Gibson says of his wife. “Samantha is her only daughter, and this has been prayers for years and years, for her to get married and find the right one and start a family.”

Now in her second trimester, with their baby due in September, Samantha says she’s been in “full practicing mode” with 10-year-old stepdaughter Shayla, “[whom] I consider mine.”

And the spouses don’t expect any sibling rivalry. According to Samantha, Shayla’s “been asking for siblings since I’ve known her.”

Following custody issues last year, Tyrese shares his oldest with his ex-wife. “Unfortunately as entertainers and public figures, you have to go through very private matters publicly sometimes. … I’m just happy to be on the other side of it and have my daughter back home with us,” he says.

“We were able to conceive at the right time, I believe,” Samantha says. “There was a lot that happened last year — everyone is aware of that — and so to have the opportunity to … really start a new chapter in the way that has happened, I just look to God and I’m like, ‘Wow, I can’t believe that you would plan it this way and you do it so perfectly.’

With 136 wins in the past four seasons, Wright has Villanova firmly entrenched as a national power, and he has established himself as one of the elite coaches in the game.www.espn.com – TOP
SPECIAL SPORTING UPDATE:

Most of the time, the answer is a resounding “No.” But every once in a while, we’re forced to offer a very hesitant yes.

For April Fool’s Day this year, Snapchat decided to create a Facebook filter that makes it appear as if a Russian bot has liked your post. I’m confident the teens of America could GAF, but for us adults obsessed with the Mueller investigation (and likely not on Snapchat), we have no choice but to love it.

The director, co-writer and star of the new thriller “A Quiet Place” discusses his underperforming movies, becoming a reluctant horror fan and being remembered as Jim from “The Office.”Culture and Arts

Becky Vieira

posted in Life

I guess it wasn’t temporary. I pee my pants all the time since I’ve had a baby. Yes, it’s the sneeze-and-leak variety. But also the “Oops, I completely peed my pants and need to change everything from the waist down” type.

And my poor bladder. With all that added pressure I was peeing frequently and leaking. I expected it to return to normal a few months after my son was born. This was nothing that time and some Kegel exercises couldn’t cure, right? Wrong.

I’m embarrassed, feeling like the only one that still can’t control her bladder. And this far beyond postpartum? It should be under control by now. Can someone tell me when my bladder will stop evacuating itself involuntarily?

The reasons are twofold. Obviously, my bladder just isn’t what it used to be. You can’t put one of your body’s organs through what a bladder endures during pregnancy and not expect permanent repercussions.

Secondly, it’s due to toddler mom chaos. My time ceases to be my own. I’ll need to go, but get busy doing something with or for my son. Before I realize it two hours have passed. Suddenly that feeling is more of an urgent insistence from my bladder. Next thing it’s “Oops, I peed my pants.”

It makes me laugh, feel gross, want to cry…all of the above.

I’ve stocked up on panty liners and feminine wipes, which fill a pocket in my diaper bag right next to my son’s diaper wipes. I’ve almost confused the two on occasion.

Fortunately it’s not a daily occurrence. In fact, I’ve actually gone weeks without an accident. Yes, I refer to them as accidents, the same as a potty training tot would say. I hope I can appreciate the irony when the time comes to potty train my own son and we’re both peeing our pants.

The degree of embarrassment is determined by three factors:

How much I pee

Where I am when it happens, and

Who is with me — or who am I unable to hide it from

The light bladder leakage — or LBL as the marketing folks cutely refer to it in ads for liners — is the best scenario. A sneeze or laugh are often the impetus. And it’s handled with a liner. Don’t get me wrong, it’s still horrible. But if it has to happen, this is how I want it to go down.

Anything beyond LBL can’t be sugarcoated. It means I’ve peed my pants. Hopefully it hasn’t gone beyond my underwear. Sometimes it does. In that case I pray the wet spot can’t be easily seen. Or I grab something to tie around my waist.

Like real estate, location is key in the pants peeing game. If I’m at home it really doesn’t matter if it’s LBL or a complete and total urine drench. My son is used to me saying “Mommy’s wet her pants…again,” before I head to the bathroom to get cleaned up.

Out in the wild it’s another story. It’s not only where, it’s how far I am from home. How many hours into my outing. Did I just leave the house? Or is the day winding down? Either way, I’m hightailing it home. It’s just less frustrating at the end of a dinner out versus the appetizer course.

Then there’s the company I’m with. My inner circle knows. Luckily I haven’t had any incidents beyond that. I’ve become more strategic as to when I consume my daily water intake. And carry a spare pair of underwear in my diaper bag (all hail the multipurpose diaper bag).

I’m not accepting defeat. I’m keeping up with the Kegel exercises. Going straight to the bathroom when I feel the need, not hours later. Cutting back on caffeine and eating less spicy or acidic foods.

My ob-gyn is aware, and doesn’t think this will last forever. It just feels that way at times.

On the bright side, my bathroom has never been cleaner. At least I have that.

Bryant, who is dating retired NBA star Sherman Douglas. says she’s open to marry again “if it’s the right situation”

Come back every day at 8:30 a.m. EST to watch People Now streaming live from the Meredith offices in New York City, and rebroadcast at 11:30 a.m. EST. Get the absolute latest in celebrity news, real-life people stories & the best of fashion and food.

Four of the 10 longest consecutive games played streaks in NHL history were active at the start of the 2017-18 season — and one ended only after suspension. What’s behind this trend, and will NHL teams ever adopt NBA-style rest regimens?www.espn.com – NHL

The Rockets are the NBA’s first to 60 wins, while the Eastern Conference’s longest active winning streak belongs to the playoff-bound 76ers, who are back in the postseason for the first time since 2012.www.espn.com – NBA
SPECIAL UPDATE:

Weeks after the White House released its budget request, which provided a massive increase in defense spending, Congress took over and added even more money in what amounts to a spending spree on major weapons systems.Business

http://www.acrx.org -As millions of Americans strive to deal with the economic downturn,loss of jobs,foreclosures,high cost of gas,and the rising cost of prescription drug cost. Charles Myrick ,the President of American Consultants Rx, announced the re-release of the American Consultants Rx community service project which consist of millions of free discount prescription cards being donated to thousands of not for profits,hospitals,schools,churches,etc. in an effort to assist the uninsured,under insured,and seniors deal with the high cost of prescription drugs.-American Consultants Rx -Pharmacy Discount Network News

ZURICH (Reuters) – The works of great artists buoyed the art market last year and none did more than Leonardo da Vinci, whose ‘Salvator Mundi’ sold to great fanfare for $ 450 million in New York in November.

African Americans are returning to the housing market slowly but surely, according to recent data. After hitting a near 50-year low of 41.3% in 2016, even lower than during the Great Depression, the 2017 State of Housing in Black America report found that black home ownership has now risen above 42%. With home ownership consistently pointed to as the best vehicle for long-term wealth creation, and accounting for 70% (U.S. Census Bureau) of black